Improved car-coupling



I E. s. CRAM.

Car Coupling.

' No. 89,202; Patented April 20, 1869.

. -Z U e M207 N PETERS. Pholbiflhognphv. Walhinglan. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

E. S. ORAM, OF NEW HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,202, dated April 20, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. S. ORAM, of New Hampton, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improved Oar-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a front elevation of the improved car-coupling and parts immediately connected therewith as applied to a common platform-car; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section thereof.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both figures.

The mouth A of the bumper is flaring, as usual, and it has a (preferably) square throat, a, extending back far enough to receive a sliding block, B, and allow sutlicient movement thereof for the purpose intended. Behind this square throat is a smaller hole or cavity, d, for the reception of a coiled spring, f, which pushes the sliding block forward. A depression, I), in the top of the sliding block B, into which a pin or screw, 0, projects downward, as seen in Fig. 2, limits the extent of sliding movement allowed to the block.

The coupling-pin 0 moves up and down in a guide, G, projecting up from the bumper; and in order that the descent of the coupling pin may be always sure, a spring, 2', is located in an enlarged cavity, h. of the guide, so as to force the pin down, whether the weight thereof is sutlicient or not for the purpose. The coupling-pin has an enlargement, g, not far from its lower end, for the double purpose of furnishing a shoulder at the top, against which the spring 2' bears, and a shoulder at the bottom to bear on the coupling-link D after (lescending, and thus hold the same in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it will enter the mouth of the bumper of the adjacent car without being held by the attendant. In this use the springi also performs an important part. The enlargement 9 also serves as a guide to the pin by fitting in the enlarged cavity h of the guide. Its lower shoulder also rests on the block B, to support the pin when the said block is sprung forward.

The forward end of the sliding block B is concave horizontally, and is inclined backward from top to bottom, as shown in Fig. 2. The concavity is for the purpose of centering the link as it enters the bumper-mouth, and its overhanging inclination is for the purpose of causing the inner end of the coupling-link to keep down close to the bottom of the bumperthroat, and thus assist in holding the link in a horizontal position.

When the coupling-pin is raised the sliding block springs forward under it, so as to hold up the pin; but when a coupling-link enters the bumper it pushes the sliding block back, and the coupling-pin immediately drops into the link, thereby coupling the two cars.

The coupling-pin may be raised in any suitable way, such as by levers m m and connectin g-rods n n, Fig. 1, or by a rod, cord, or chain, 19, extending up' to the top of the car.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The arrangement and combination of the coupling-pin O, with its enlargement g, the spring 6, and the hollow guide G, with its smaller cavity for the spring, and its enlarged cavity h, for the reception of the pin enlargement g, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. Also, the arrangement and combination of the coupling-pin (J, with its enlargement g, the link D, and the spring sliding block B, having its forward end both concave horizontally and inclined forward vertically, and limited in its movement by the depression b and pin or projection c, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

The above specification of my improved carcoupling signed by me this 27th day of November, 1867.

E. S. ORAM.

Witnesses THOMAS HAM, O. P. S. WARDW'ELL. 

